Illustrator Helen Ridley
Helen may have studied fashion illustration. But the idea of a career freelancing in it never occurred to her. So she waved goodbye to creativity and went to work for a decade in retail. It was the 2020 lockdown period that redrew her plans. Now Helen's a successful live illustrator with brand collaborations, weddings, pet portraits, workshops and a retreat. Having fun being creative and sociable, whilst getting serious about her marketing and what's profitable.
Episode 335 of the Being Freelance podcast, hosted by Helen Ridley, Steve Folland, titled "Illustrator Helen Ridley" was published on February 10, 2025 and runs 51 minutes.
February 10, 2025 ·51m · Being Freelance
Summary
Helen may have studied fashion illustration. But the idea of a career freelancing in it never occurred to her. So she waved goodbye to creativity and went to work for a decade in retail. It was the 2020 lockdown period that redrew her plans. Now Helen's a successful live illustrator with brand collaborations, weddings, pet portraits, workshops and a retreat. Having fun being creative and sociable, whilst getting serious about her marketing and what's profitable.
Episode Description
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In this episode, Steve Folland interviews Helen Ridley, a freelance illustrator who has carved a unique niche in live event illustration.
Helen shares her inspiring journey from studying fashion design to working in retail for over a decade and finally making the leap to full-time freelance illustration during the 2020 lockdown.
She discusses the challenges and rewards of building her business, the importance of pitching and persistence once you have a contact, and her success with live portraits at events, including a notable partnership with John Lewis.
Helen’s not just pursuing her passion. She’s focussed her freelancing on what’s actually profitable.
Helen also delves into her collaborative creative workshops and retreats, strategies for email marketing and PR for freelancers, and the value of community and networking in the freelance world.
00:35 Steve Folland's Introduction and Riverside Sponsorship
01:21 Helen's Journey to Freelancing
04:15 Transition to Live Illustration
09:07 Success with John Lewis and Pet Portraits
17:14 The 100 Rejections Challenge
20:58 Collaborating on Creative Workshops
25:49 Unexpected Bookings from Podcasts and Events
26:46 The Power of Email Marketing
28:10 Balancing Marketing and Live Events
32:09 The Role of a Part-Time Job
33:49 Promoting Yourself and Winning Awards
41:54 Fun Facts: Two Truths and a Lie Game
48:48 Advice for Aspiring Freelancers
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